Maine Ave

[lordofthemark]

@bentbike33 165214 wrote:

Well, you could go 1/2 block further north on 7th from G Street and take Capitol Square Place over to 9th. You might even get a green left turn arrow! Capitol Square Place is more or less an alley with speed bumps, but it is 2-way and not a sidewalk.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8814954,-77.0218778,3a,75y,25.64h,69.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVCglN0eZPorcTK-ECcGu-Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

?

Hmm, not sure I am a fan of switching two lanes on 7th at rush hour to make the vehicular left. (If I were to do G, I would probably turn from Eye at 4th Street, which is generally bike friendly. Could try it one day though.

[TwoWheelsDC]

They had the sidewalk at 9th/Maine all torn up this morning, eliminating the one curb cut in that area (which I never use anyway)…At least it’s a sign of progress. I also noted this morning that the middle (?) building of the 1st phase looks nowhere near complete, and the there seemed to be significant facade work still needed for the building closest to the fish market. Not sure how they’re going to have that ready by October…which also means I really doubt the cycletrack will be fully useful by then either. Seems like it will just dead end into the remaining construction.

[bentbike33]

@lordofthemark 165215 wrote:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8814954,-77.0218778,3a,75y,25.64h,69.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVCglN0eZPorcTK-ECcGu-Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

?

Hmm, not sure I am a fan of switching two lanes on 7th at rush hour to make the vehicular left. (If I were to do G, I would probably turn from Eye at 4th Street, which is generally bike friendly. Could try it one day though.

That’s the place. 7th is never very busy in that stretch, and I ride through ~5:00 pm every day. What traffic there is on northbound 7th is slow and cowed into submission by the frequent and uncoordinated stop lights further north.

[Emm]

@bentbike33 165217 wrote:

That’s the place. 7th is never very busy in that stretch, and I ride through ~5:00 pm every day. What traffic there is on northbound 7th is slow and cowed into submission by the frequent and uncoordinated stop lights further north.

I take capitol sq place every night to access the Case Bridge, although coming from the opposite on 7th which makes it easier. But Bentbike33 is right. The traffic is really light coming from the direction you’d be heading. It’s probably worth a try one night just to see how it works. It might end up being the best option, or at least an alternative if the other routes aren’t great.

[anomad]

@Steve O 165199 wrote:

At the end of Eye St, go north to G. Turn left and ride 1 block the wrong way on the southside sidewalk. Straight across and up to the circle.
Then you can either go right and pick your bike up over the median and the curb to get to the switchback
or
Ride the wrong way around the circle to the switchback. Be sure not to get run over by a tour bus.

You can also transition to G any point earlier as you travel westbound on I.

I use this G street route and hop the curb at the circle (from 4th) when I go over stinky bridge.

[ShawnoftheDread]

For the sake of our eyes when using the preview page, here’s a pic of me fully clothed rolling down Maine.

[AFHokie]

@ShawnoftheDread 165227 wrote:

For the sake of our eyes when using he preview page, here’s a pic of me fully clothed rolling down Maine.

Liked & elieted x 1000!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[lordofthemark]

@bentbike33 165217 wrote:

That’s the place. 7th is never very busy in that stretch, and I ride through ~5:00 pm every day. What traffic there is on northbound 7th is slow and cowed into submission by the frequent and uncoordinated stop lights further north.

I take capitol sq place every night to access the Case Bridge, although coming from the opposite on 7th which makes it easier. But Bentbike33 is right. The traffic is really light coming from the direction you’d be heading. It’s probably worth a try one night just to see how it works. It might end up being the best option, or at least an alternative if the other routes aren’t great.

So, naturally, I tried it this afternoon.

Yeah, 7th is not bad – the traffic was not that light, but by timing it right, the scoot left was easy enough.

I overcame my guilt at ignoring the local traffic only sign.

The speed bumps. Terrible private property only kind of speed bumps. Okay this is the price for avoiding Maine.

The left onto 9th was – ahem – interesting.

Then the up the curb, down the curb, up the curb at Banneker Park. Though I guess taking the sidewalk on G would not avoid those.

So, yes, its an alternative.

[bentbike33]

@lordofthemark 165250 wrote:

So, naturally, I tried it this afternoon.

Yeah, 7th is not bad – the traffic was not that light, but by timing it right, the scoot left was easy enough.

I overcame my guilt at ignoring the local traffic only sign.

The speed bumps. Terrible private property only kind of speed bumps. Okay this is the price for avoiding Maine.

The left onto 9th was – ahem – interesting.

Then the up the curb, down the curb, up the curb at Banneker Park. Though I guess taking the sidewalk on G would not avoid those.

So, yes, its an alternative.

I have never heard a complaint from residents for riding through.

I usually go around the speed bumps on the side with the parked cars unless someone is getting in or out of their car.

I’m trying this route too and am still working out when to get on the sidewalk. I think the southernmost sidewalk would be the best one. Connects to the bridge and only one curb to hop.

[Emm]

@bentbike33 165251 wrote:

I’m trying this route too and am still working out when to get on the sidewalk. I think the southernmost sidewalk would be the best one. Connects to the bridge and only one curb to hop.

I just gave up trying to find a better option last year after a few attempts and now hop the curb over the park, cross it, go down a curb and then back up one to get to the Case Bridge. I’ve tried Steve O’s suggestion of going the wrong way around the circle when it’s late at night, but during rush hour that’s a bad idea due to traffic. I’ve also ridden down the hill on 9th to the light, then gotten onto the sidewalk and gone back up the path which results in no curbs needing to get hopped, but it seems silly to go down a hill and then right back up it, plus it doesn’t appear to save me any time. I’ve also tried hopping on the southernmost sidewalk, but that often requires me to wait in traffic which is lame . Not a bad idea though on light traffic days. Honestly, hopping the curb multiple times isn’t ideal or fun, but it’s simple and straightforward. During the winter it was actually kind of nice to have that moment off my bike because it gave me a second to adjust my gear if I over/under dressed.

My alternate route is playing frogger with tour buses while riding across the National Mall, so I find the minor annoyance of hopping a curb a few times to be worth it for the significantly safer commute.

[lordofthemark]

@Emm 165272 wrote:

I just gave up trying to find a better option last year after a few attempts and now hop the curb over the park, cross it, go down a curb and then back up one to get to the Case Bridge. I’ve tried Steve O’s suggestion of going the wrong way around the circle when it’s late at night, but during rush hour that’s a bad idea due to traffic. I’ve also ridden down the hill on 9th to the light, then gotten onto the sidewalk and gone back up the path which results in no curbs needing to get hopped, but it seems silly to go down a hill and then right back up it, plus it doesn’t appear to save me any time. I’ve also tried hopping on the southernmost sidewalk, but that often requires me to wait in traffic which is lame . Not a bad idea though on light traffic days. Honestly, hopping the curb multiple times isn’t ideal or fun, but it’s simple and straightforward. During the winter it was actually kind of nice to have that moment off my bike because it gave me a second to adjust my gear if I over/under dressed.

My alternate route is playing frogger with tour buses while riding across the National Mall, so I find the minor annoyance of hopping a curb a few times to be worth it for the significantly safer commute.

Plus its not possible now, as the path back up the hill is blocked (or at least was a couple of days ago) Were it not, I would stick with my route of Eye>7th>Right lane on Maine>Crosswalk across 9th>Up the path to the sidewalk>Case Bridge. Which has the advantage of allowing me to decide to do left lane on Maine>sidewalkbyfishmarket>OhioDrive if I see that the traffic on Maine is light, and if I feel the desire to take the worse but shorter route.

For now, its fun to try the alternatives, while waiting for things to get better on Maine.

[paytonc]

@ursus 163730 wrote:

Of course soon thereafter Phase 2 construction of the Wharf will start messing up Maine Avenue some more.

The cycletrack has been surprisingly passable most times I’ve used it, with just some minor bell-ringing to warn pedestrians. (I’ve heard that permanent signs are on their way, but given the number of tourists present it’ll always be a challenge.) However, it abruptly ends at the 1000 Maine construction site, with no detour. One possibility is to zig-zag over to the water side, then through the fish market.

There will be a respite of about a year until Phase 2 construction starts. At least from my POV (coming from south of M/Maine) it’ll be a left onto Maine from 6th (at Arena Stage), then another left back onto the cycletrack at 7th.

[ursus]

Should this thread be combined with http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?12357-Maine-Avenue-is-Combat?

[creadinger]

@ursus 166753 wrote:

Should this thread be combined with http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?12357-Maine-Avenue-is-Combat?

I think they can be.

[Author]

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